How a routine bike stop in Utica ended in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old

UTICA, N.Y. — In less than thirty seconds, what Utica Police say started as a routine stop ended with one of their officers shooting and killing a 13-year-old boy who was already pinned to the ground by another officer.

Utica Police release body cam footage of officer fatally shooting 13-year-old

Police body camera footage released by the Utica Police Department shows officers stopping two boys riding bikes in the street. One officer says, "The reason why we're stopping you is you're riding [in] the roadway.”

In footage from Utica Police Officer Bryce Patterson’s body camera, at about 10:18 p.m., he tells 13-year-old Nyah Mway he’s going to pat him down, "Can I just pat you down, make sure you got no weapons on you?"

Nyah then takes off. During the chase, Officer Patterson tells him to stop reaching for his waistband. In a brief instant, Nyah raises a black object and Patterson knocks him down and wrestles him to the ground, yelling “He’s got a gun!”

Running behind Patterson is Officer Patrick Husnay. In his body camera footage, we see him run to Officer Patterson on top of Nyah and fire a single shot.

Cell phone video from a witness on a porch nearby shows the moment Officer Husnay shoots the teen, who is already on the ground with Officer Patterson on top of him.

In response to CNY Central’s question, if Officer Husnay was following proper procedure when he shot the teen, Utica Police Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Curley said, “With respect to any actions by these officers the office of special investigations will determine whether it was lawful, appropriate... Additionally, our internal investigation will determine if trainings, practices were followed.”

Utica Police later determined the black object Nyah was carrying was a pellet gun made to look like a Glock.

Since the incident, Utica Police have said that Nyah and the other teenager involved in the original stop matched the description of robbery suspects, but none of the officers on scene that night state that as a reason for initially stopping the boys. Instead stating repeatedly that the issue was they were riding their bikes in the road.

“What crimes are they wanted for?" an investigator asked Officer Husnay following the shooting.

Husnay responded, “Just V&T [Vehicle and Traffic] violations.”

However, Lt. Curley claimed the officers were aware of the robbery investigation when they stopped the two Friday night.

“They had conversations earlier in the evening with the criminal investigation division who were investigating robberies. They were specifically provided suspect descriptions, and time of day and things of that nature and asked them to be in that specific area based on the previous robbery descriptions.”

Nyah’s death has left the Utica community heartbroken and angry, leading to a demonstration outside the state office building in Utica on Monday.

Utica community demands justice for 13-year-old at emotional vigil

Officers Patterson, Husnay and Andrew Cintriniti, who was also on the scene, are all on paid administrative leave.